Wednesday’s Card: The Blended Look with Stampin’ Up! Markers

Although it looks like I colored these flowers with Copic markers, I actually just used Stampin’ Up! markers (Riding Hood Red, Perfect Plum, and Old Olive), a blender pen, and a white colored pencil. That’s it! However, there is one trick that makes it work… you must use watercolor paper. Watercolor paper is very textured and thick. It’s 140 lb paper, as compared to the regular white cardstock at 80 lb. It absorbs a lot more moisture before it will start to peel off in layers. You can still use this technique with regular cardstock, but it won’t look quite as blended (the flower stems are on regular cardstock). Stampin’ Up! sells five 6″x9″ sheets of watercolor paper for $4.95. Because I only use a little bit at a time, mine has lasted me quite awhile, so I think it’s a good deal.

The difference between using markers and Copics? There is much less blending with markers (hence the workaround with throwing moisture into the mix), and you cannot take color out once you put it down. With Copics, you can actually remove color, making dark spots lighter or even white. So now you understand my need for the white colored pencil! It’s not going to be perfect, but the pencil really helps finish it off.

I created the background using my scoring board to make lines, then inking over it. I also flicked a bunch of water onto it. I love how the Top Note die has the stitching around it. When you ink it with brown ink (I used Brushed Corduroy distress ink – I can say that out loud!), it really stands out.

Remember this when coloring: focus on one petal at a time and the whole thing will come together in the end. 🙂

Comments

wrote on November 2nd, 2011 at 9:08 am

Carol Lucas

Beautiful, just beautiful! Thanks for sharing your marker coloring techniques. I don’t have the Copic markers but do have the stampin up ones and was wondering if they give the same effect. I can’t tell the difference with your coloring. Lovely!

Rosanne

YES!!! You ARE BEYOND DOUBT TALENTED & CREATIVE!!! I absolutely LOVE this card (as well as so many others you have done)! I have all the SU Markers and wondered how to get the same effect as Copic Markers. I’m still going to start investing in some Copic Markers though!

Thank you for sharing your talent and technique! Could I refer to that as TNT?! You’re just ‘Dynamite’ at what you do! LOL! Once again, you’ve out done yourself!! 🙂

Lillian F.

Hey Darlene this is a great card. Love all the detail that you put into it. I totally understand your decision about Stamping Up because I too thought about becoming a demonstrator but I felt that they were trying to control my creativity and thats not gonna happen. I think that you have a lot of great ideas and I love all the products that you use. With that said keep creating girl I love your videos!

Susan

I really loved this weeks card, along with many others you have made. I was wondering, did you do anything special with the centers of the flowers, or did you leave them alone?
Thanks again for sharing your talents via the internet. It almost feels as if you are giving a home demonstration!

Carol B

What an original and beautiful card. Love how you used your markers and watercolor paper to get the look of Copics. Your talent really stands out, looking forward to Your new path, follow it with your heart.

Rita R

I was really looking forward to this video! This is a wonderful coloring technique …. those flowers look beautiful. Also love the scored and inked background and, as always, that flick of water adds so much interest. Thanks again for inspiring us with new ideas!

Karan

Darlene,
It’s beautiful! Thank you for the instructions that you took the time to present. I can’t afford Copic markers in all of the colors that I’d truly need. I really appreciate learning your technique using my SU markers. Thank you so much!

Kimberli Sarsfield

Every card video I watch from you, I think “that’s my favorite” but every one of your creations is utterly stunning, so I guess I think they’re all my favorites! I don’t know how you top yourself each week, but this one is so beautiful. I love the scored and inked background, it adds so much to this already gorgeous color palette. Those flowers are so lovely! I am always left in awe after looking at your gallery! Also, kudos to handling this whole SU affair so professionally and with so much dignity:)

Cathy E

What a beautiful card! I have both Copics and SU markers, and I love using both. It’s great to learn a new technique to use with my markers. Using the watercolor paper with the markers is a great tip. Thanks so much. I appreciate your work! Holly M.

Maria

Hi Darlene, Its Maria from Sydney Australia and I just love this card (as I do all of them) and the way you coloured it with the markers. I too own Stampin Up markers and now have found another use for them, so thank you very much.
I want to show my support of your decision with resigning from Stampin Up. I totally understand the need to be creative without you being supressed as to how you express it. Maybe Stampin Up should realise that alot of papercrafters use a variety of products and showing how to use Stampin Up products along with other branded products shows customers out there how versatile Stampin Up products can be. Keep up your wonderful and inspiring work. Looking forward to your next video 🙂

Oh and I forgot to mention…sorry to hear about your rough week, but I think you made the right decision. The whole idea is to express your creativity and inspire others – regardless of the products you use.

Lynda Nichols

Darlene DeVries

Hi Lynda! You should be able to just wipe your blender pen on a piece of cardstock a couple of times to get the color out. It definitely should not transfer to other projects after you do this. If it does, then it is not functioning the way it should. Mine are pretty old… they are a little stained, but they still don’t transfer color. Is it SU? If so, you can call customer service and exchange it for a new one.

Linda Irwin

Thank you so much for the AWESOME tutorial! My friend pointed me to your video and I cant wait to try this! I do have copics but because I am a SU demo I rarely use them. glad to find out I can do this technique with SU markers!
TFS

Sandy K

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mary r

I Love your coloring technique! I have some copics but it seems i dont have enough of each color to shade. I am a SU! Demonstrator so i DO have all the markers and with your easy to understand tutorials i believe i can do this. Thank you so much for these tutorials. I love your style and i can listen to your easy going voice all day. Please keep them coming. Mary

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Suzanne

Darlene,

You used the Memento Dye Inkpad.
How is this different from Stazon sold by SU?
Stayzon is what I have used with watercolor paper and SU markers and watercolor pencils.
Just wondering if there is a better product for my purposes.
Thanks.